Big brand tour irons, not all they seem to be.

[munro007]

It has really surprised me when i recently found out the a lot of the big brand golf manufacturers, pay Vega & Miura to make irons for tour players, and put there own branding on them. Why don't they make their own irons for their tour players.

 

[ScienceBoy]

It has really surprised me when i recently found out the a lot of the big brand golf manufacturers, pay Vega & Miura to make irons for tour players, and put there own branding on them. Why don't they make their own irons for their tour players.

Not heard of this, any evidence?

Typical scientist me

 

[drawboy]

Basically because they are set up to make cheap Chinese castings or forgings and they do not have the skill to produce forgings that are good enough for the best players on the planet. Tiger uses Nike irons....Yeah course he does, not a cat in hells chance that he uses the same gear that you or I can buy. They have the Nike tick but that is as close to Nike as they will ever get. Same with his balls, they are Titleists with the Nike branding.

 

[Imurg]

Why does it matter?:mmm:

 

[DappaDonDave]

Why does it matter?:mmm:

Because it means we will never be able to play like the pros....blah...blah...blaaaaah

 

[duncan mackie]

big brand and manufacturer in the same sentence - not often nowadays.

most big brands are designers and marketing and the manufacturing is subcontracted, often many times! whether it's to a 'group company' or outside isn't clear, or relevant, in the modern world. the big brand is responsible for the product in the consumers hands from the consumers perspective - although of course even the provision of customer service is normally contracted!

 

[Imurg]

big brand and manufacturer in the same sentence - not often nowadays.

most big brands are designers and marketing and the manufacturing is subcontracted, often many times! whether it's to a 'group company' or outside isn't clear, or relevant, in the modern world. the big brand is responsible for the product in the consumers hands from the consumers perspective - although of course even the provision of customer service is normally contracted!

Let's face it - Apple don't make anything except money......

 

[munro007]

Don't you think they are conning us. Making out they are something, when they are something else.

 

[Imurg]

Only conning if you go out and by Nike irons because Tiger "plays" them and for no other reason - in which case you're an idiot anyway...

 

[DappaDonDave]

Don't you think they are conning us. Making out they are something, when they are something else.

So you think the boots Beckham used to curl that free kick in against Greece years ago, were off the shelf predators?...

 

[munro007]

So you think the boots Beckham used to curl that free kick in against Greece years ago, were off the shelf predators?...

Did Vega make them too.

 

[DappaDonDave]

Did Vega make them too.

No but I bet it wasnt the same Chinese sweat shop that made mine...same point, different sport.

 

[MegaSteve]

Why does it matter?:mmm:

Exactly...

Same for any other sport... When you buy a tennis racket doubt your getting the same as used by the pro's...

Even all the footwear will be custom/handmade and not what a 'consumer' will get to buy at Sports Direct etc...

 

[Slab]

& yet so many on course brand junkies are happy to buy apparel representing club brand names when the closest it ever got to a Ping/TM (insert to suit) employee, was when the manufactures invoice passed acrross the CFO's desk so he could add 40% mark-up!

 

[Junior]

Basically because they are set up to make cheap Chinese castings or forgings and they do not have the skill to produce forgings that are good enough for the best players on the planet. Tiger uses Nike irons....Yeah course he does, not a cat in hells chance that he uses the same gear that you or I can buy. They have the Nike tick but that is as close to Nike as they will ever get. Same with his balls, they are Titleists with the Nike branding.

I'm sure a saw a programme that said Nike head-hunted a ball guru from titleist to specifically work on Tigers balls From memory he was a Japanese guy called Rock (honest).

 

[One Planer]

So it really begs the question why there aren't any Vega or Muira Sponsored players on tour.

 

[Ethan]

I'm sure a saw a programme that said Nike head-hunted a ball guru from titleist to specifically work on Tigers balls From memory he was a Japanese guy called Rock (honest).

Rock Ishii.

Some manufacturers have retail sets which are sold to Joe Public, but different sets for their pros and elite amateurs. (Hint, Rocketballz). These are sometimes known as B or C grinds, but are often quite different in design and materials. Sometimes they are entirely different, such as Ricky Flowers AMP blade irons. These are usually described as 'prototypes' even if there is no intention of bring them to market.

But some manufacturers, e.g. Mizuno, do not do this, and the irons that Luke uses are basically the same that you would buy. Now they will be laser measured and weighed on a very sensitive scale etc, and his shafts (TT DG Tour Issue) will be finely tuned to his precise preferences, but if you are playing with MP59s, then you are playing with pretty similar clubs as Luke.

Not so if you play TM.

 

[Dave B]

Does it make any difference when most of us try half a dozen clubs before we decide which ones we buy?

I've been privleged enough to fish at the top level and be involved with rod design trying out different prototypes before deciding which one goes into production. Many people where convinced that the rods I used were different to what they got off the shelf however the truth of the matter was the prototypes weren't as good as the finished product which had been refined before they went into production and hit the shelves.

 

[USER1999]

Does any one actually believe that Nike, with all their millions behind them can't forge a golf club for tiger to use?

I am not convinced that miura do their own forgings.

Ping players do play ping clubs. They are the same as you can buy, but I guess they are measured, and weighed so that the set is exactly matched. Yours are off the rack.

 

[Foxholer]

My sticks are Miura forgings under the TM label.

I believe Vega use a forging house- Kyoei - that several other Japanese companies (like Chikara at least used to and Yururi) also use. Endo is used by a number of supposed OEMs - Bridgestone/TourStage Endo's own brand Epon and at least some Titleist.

Not sure who Nike use, but rumour is that all Tiger's clubs - even back in the Titleist T-Stamp days - were by Miura.

Not incredibly important to me - I've also got some Endo forged TourStage branded irons. It's the design of the club that's more important.

I'd actually take issue with those who think Tennis works the same way. The racquets Pros use start off exactly like any retail ones - though lead tape may be added to get the perceived balance required. There may also be a couple of 'prototypes' used before they are marketed for retail. There are (or certainly were) actually only a few manufacturers of tennis racquets in the world. Most use Chinese companies to do the actual manufacture though.